Your Headache Guide

Headaches along with neck pain is modern day epidemic.  We spend lots of time sitting at computers, our muscles tense up as strain forward looking at the computer.  This can cause pressure on the neck which leads to the symptoms of a dull headache.

The important thing is to keep moving.  Don’t let a dull headache stop you from moving and doing some exercise.  Yoga is a great form of exercise that puts the muscles and joints of the body through a whole range of movements and stretches.  There are difference types of yoga, it is important to find one that suits you.

From Your Headache Guide Admin Team

Headaches are a common condition. There have been many studies on this subject with the lifetime prevalence rate ranging from 83-93%. Even though headaches are a common condition experience by most people on the face of this planet, it is essential to check that the pain is not due to a serious condition.

The International Headache Society made a comprehensive attempt to classify headaches back in 1988. They listed 13 separate groups such as:

intracranial, meningeal irritation, cranial, vascular disturbances, toxic states, extracranial, psychogenic & “other.” From a physical therapy (or physiotherapy) perspective, it is a matter of identifying individuals who suffer from headaches that are experiencing pain due to non-mechanical conditions. If the patient is inappropriate for mechanical therapy, they should be referred to their local medical practitioner for further investigations.

Possible indicators of serious pathology in headaches include:

• Progressive worsening of a headache
• A severe & recent onset of headache, sometimes described as a “thunderclap” headache
• Headache onset after exertion
• Development of headaches after 50 years of age
• History of major trauma
• Headache with symptoms of nausea and/or vomiting
• Headache in the temporal region and/or the base of the skull with visual changes
• Headache accompanied with a sore throat or a respiratory infection
• Headache with a previous history of cancer
• Associated problems with speech and/or swallowing
• Headache with any visual changes
• Associated symptoms such as progressive weakness, convulsions, blackouts, mental changes or feeling overall unwell

The above list indicates certain criteria that a qualified practitioner should consider in deciding the possible cause of the headache. It is a matter of looking at the big picture, considering the patients history and determining if anything “unusual” stands out. If something does not quite fit the picture, a referral for further investigations such as a scan will help to rule out the very small chance that a headache has an underlying serious pathology.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sandra McFaul specializes in helping people get rid of chronic & recurrent back, neck pain & headaches using the McKenzie Method of Physiotherapy.

Sandra is 1 of 15 therapists in Australia and 1 of around 400 world-wide with ADVANCED training in the McKenzie Method. She is based at ATA…Physiotherapy that Empowers! Stanmore - the Inner West of Sydney, NSW, Australia.

To get instant access to information on headaches, visit: http://www.yourheadacheguide.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Mcfaul
http://EzineArticles.com/?Headaches—Do-You-Know-the-Serious-Signs-to-Look-Out-For?&id=1466245

Headaches are a common problem. Many people experience headaches. The problem can be quite debilitating with the symptoms ranging from a few hours to days or even weeks. When the symptoms last for weeks, the pain may come and go or the person may suffer a low grade dull headache or throb all the time.

An essential factor when considering an individual with a headache is that the symptoms do not have an underlying serious pathology such as a tumour. A McKenzie Physiotherapist is able to assess a person’s neck and head movements and determine if the symptoms change with different movements and positions.

Headaches that are caused by a musculoskeletal problem, i.e. the ligaments, muscles or soft tissues, typically are aggravated by having the head and neck positioned in prolonged “bad” positions. This is usually sitting in a slouched position whereby the head is held in a protruded position. This puts a lot of pressure on the soft tissues at the back of the head or upper part of the neck and can lead to pain.

To combat headaches caused by sitting the wrong way, it is essential to be aware of how you hold your body. Many things we do during our normal routine involve the head in a forward or poked chin position. By stopping and thinking where you head is in space, this can minimize the amount your head is in that “bad” position.

Another thing to consider is the way you stand and walk. Often people stand with their shoulders forward and down which results in the head being poked or protruded forward. It is matter of reminding oneself to stand tall. Think that a piece of string is pulling you up by the head or think that you are a “cat walk model” that moves with great posture and style.

The key to combating headaches is your posture. It may sound easy but the challenge is to remember to practice it. If you do, the headaches you suffer from the soft tissues at the base of your neck should be significantly less.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sandra McFaul specializes in helping people get rid of chronic & recurrent back and neck pain using the McKenzie Method of Physiotherapy.

Sandra is 1 of 15 therapists in Australia and 1 of around 400 world-wide with ADVANCED training in the McKenzie Method. She is based at ATA…Physiotherapy that Empowers! Stanmore - the Inner West of Sydney, NSW, Australia.

To get instant access to information on headaches go to: http://www.yourheadacheguide.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Mcfaul
http://EzineArticles.com/?Headaches—A-Pain-to-Deal-With!&id=1461286

Headaches are a common problem. Some people suffer headaches constantly while others experience them on and off. The important thing to rule out if you suffer from a headache is that you don’t have a serious pathology such as a tumour.

Your Headache Guide Admin Team

Mechanical headaches are often caused by poor sitting posture. During the day when we sit we tend to slouch. The head comes forward and causes pressure on the back of the neck and head leading to a headache. The answer is to “think” about sitting and walking tall.

Your Headache Guide Admin Team